PRAGUE -- Czech champions Viktoria Plzen are close to signing former Seattle Sounders midfielder Andreas Ivanschitz.
Plzen say Ivanschitz agreed terms for a contract lasting one-and-a-half seasons and will sign when the team returns from a training camp in Spain.
Ivanschitz, who helped the Seattle Sounders win their first MLS Cup in December, has already joined the squad at the Oliva Nova resort, the club say.
The Sounders declined to pick up the 33-year-old's option at the end of the season, and he thanked fans for their support earlier this week.
And of course last but not least i d like to thank you FANS for an amazing support ������ pic.twitter.com/moVx2tVRLt
- Andreas Ivanschitz (@andivan) January 18, 2017
"It's been a great pleasure being a part of the Sounders organization for the last 1 1/2 years," he wrote on Twitter. "I would like to thank my teammates, the coaching staff and every member in the front office for an incredible experience and unforgettable moments wearing the Sounders jersey. Thank you Seattle."
Ivanschitz spent one and a half seasons in Settale, scoring four goals in 34 games, though he was limited by a knee injury in the 2016 playoffs.
He has also played for Rapid Vienna and Red Bull Salzburg in Austria, Mainz in the Bundesliga, Levante in Spain and Panathinaikos in Athens. Ivanschitz played in 69 international games for Austria from 2003-14, scoring 12 goals.
